Sicogon Is. owners, inhabitants hold dialogue, reach compromise
Majority owners of the once-famed tourist destination Sicogon Island and representatives of its inhabitants held a dialogue yesterday to resolve the conflict that has strained relations between them.
Around noon, the parties reached a compromise brokered by Msgr. Meliton Oso.
The dialogue, held at the Provincial Capitol and attended by Gov. Niel Tupas, follows the arrival Tuesday of an estimated 300 Sicogon island inhabitants who walked all the way from Carles town, about 120 kilometers north of the City. They started their march Wednesday last week to highlight their alleged eviction from the island to pave the way for foreign investors.
The inhabitants accuse the island’s owner, the Sicogon Development Corporation (Sideco) of harassing them, particularly evicting them from their houses and preventing them from tending to their farms, accusations which were all denied by the majority shareholders.
Amelia de la Cruz alleged that Sideco’s security guards either burned or destroyed their houses including the fences. Thelma Bacinillo, for her part, said that Sideco evicted her from her house and confiscated her farm animals and some personal property. Lastly, Elsa Bulaqueño said that Sideco’s guards threatened to shoot her two minor sons.
Edgardo Sarrosa, President and Chairman of the Sideco, denied all these. He stressed that they had not been harassing the inhabitants, nor forcing them out of their houses.
Oso said that the problem between the inhabitants and Sideco hinged mainly on the following incidents: the alleged harassment committed by Sideco’s private security guards; the eviction of some residents from their houses and farms.
Sarrosa said that Bacinillo, and anybody else claiming to have been displaced, that they can return to their houses and continue possessing the land without fear of being evicted. Moreover, he said that Bacinillo can have her farm animals back.
He also assured the inhabitants that they will not be harmed by Sideco’s security guards.
“Nothing will happen to you,” Sarrosa stressed.
With provincial police chief, Sr. Supt. Ricardo dela Paz at his side, Tupas assured de la Cruz, Bacinillo and Bulaqueño of the safety of the inhabitants. De la Paz gave to the three his personal mobile phone number the latter can contact in case they are harassed by Sideco’s guards.
The 1,160-hectare island was a top tourist destination in the '70s. It has its own airstrip and hordes of foreign tourists came to the island during its heydays.